Texas State Teachers Association

Join us for an online training, "Fighting Back Against ICE Raids in Our Schools," this Wednesday, October 15 from 5-6pm as part of the NEA's four-part series.

When our students and communities are under attack, educators stand up.

Register here: tinyurl.com/2htep4s2

Thoughts on the cell phone ban?

We at the TSTA team want to know what the cell phone ban has been like for you, your students, and your community for a story to be featured in TSTA's magazine, The Advocate.

Let us know here: forms.gle/cKR3dqVwCNHn...

Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day! Today, we highlight resources to help you educate students honestly and accurately about Native history and the people whose land we occupy.

Check out more teaching resources here: tinyurl.com/4xue8fdf

Book banning has become the new normal in American public schools, but the vast majority of parents trust educators—not politicians, to choose books for their kids. This opposition to book bans is fueling an energetic, dedicated effort to keep books in the hands of students.

Banned Book Week is meant to celebrate the freedom to read and highlight the value of access to information, even when it's unpopular or unorthodox. It's not so much the quantity of book bans that alarm educators, but that they're instigated by politicians seeking to divide parents and educators.

We're looking for workshop proposals for the NEA Education Support Professional National Conference on March 27-29, 2026 in Anaheim, CA.

Interested in presenting a workshop at the conference? The Request for Presenters period is now open until Oct. 21.

Submit your idea here: tinyurl.com/35s8zzu9

During #BannedBooksWeek, we want to highlight the record high number of book bans and challenges in libraries across the nation. This year, the American Library Association recorded the third highest number of book challenges since tracking began in 1990.

The National Education Association calls upon Trump and Congress to do their jobs by passing a bipartisan funding agreement. Our students, schools and communities deserve it.

H-E-B is now accepting applications for the 2026 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards, which awards cash prizes to educators who go the extra mile to serve their students and their communities. Apply before November 2, 2025! heblovesteachers.com/apply/

Celebrate #TeenTober with our list of activities to aims to promote year-round teen services and the innovative ways they help teens learn new skills and fuel their passions in and outside the library.

To celebrate #HispanicHeritageMonth, we honor the legacy of Sal Castro, a social studies teacher that helped organize the 1968 East Los Angeles student protests fighting for educational justice for Mexican-American students.

For #BannedBookWeek, the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) shows that the majority of book censorship attempts are now originating from organized movements, not parents or actual readers.

Every year, The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) compiles a list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books in order to inform the public about censorship in libraries and schools for #BannedBooksWeek.

Check them out here: tinyurl.com/mr2xuff7

Check out this general election voter guide to help you understand the 17 constitutional amendments for statewide vote this Nov. 4th. Early voting runs from Oct. 20-31.

Check to see if you're registered to vote here: tinyurl.com/34kfnnch
Read more here: tinyurl.com/mrujwptz

Today is the deadline to register to vote! Submit a last-minute application today by visiting the voter registrar office in your county or registering through a volunteer deputy voter registrar.

Standing together for teachers is standing together for a better future for all.

This #WorldTeachersDay, we call on our governments across the globe to

📢 #GoPublic

📢 #FundEducation

📢 #InvestInTeachers

The 2025 Banned Books Week's theme is “Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights.” Current efforts to ban books and information held in schools, libraries, archives, and bookstores are a truth close to fiction. This year's theme reminds us that the right to read belongs to all of us.

Celebrate the importance of building resilience with NEA's Read Across America books for this month. Resilience grows when students feel supported yet responsible—when they understand that setbacks are not endpoints but turning points.

Read book guides here: tinyurl.com/bdd5kscn

Thank an outstanding educator by nominating them for a chance to win $5,000 in classroom supplies! This back-to-school season, iHeartRadio and DonorsChoose are teaming up to celebrate amazing public school teachers across the country.

Nominate your teacher here: www.donorschoose.org/iheartradio

Are you registered to vote? You have until October 6th to register to vote so make sure to check today. 17 constitutional amendments are up for statewide vote this November 4th. Make sure your voice counts.

Check your registration status here: tinyurl.com/34kfnnch

On this day, Thurgood Marshall became the first Black justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. During his 24 years on the high court, Associate Justice Marshall consistently challenged racial and gender discrimination.

We honor his legacy by continuing his fight to defend equal educational opportunities.

The League of Women Voters of Texas produced videos explaining each of the 17 proposed amendments in clear, easy to understand language that is unbiased and nonpartisan to help voters make informed decisions.
lwvtx.clubexpress.com/content.aspx...

Join us for NEA's online training, "Access Online: Hosting Inclusive and Accessible Virtual Events" led by accessibility experts from Detroit Disability Power at 7pm next Monday, October 6th.

Register here: tinyurl.com/b3jz2a4t

There is no place for bullying in our schools. Educators know that this isn't about politics, but simply that every student deserves a safe, welcoming, affirming learning environment.
This #BullyingPreventionMonth, there’s no better time to think about the best ways to keep our students safe.

This #HispanicHeritageMonth, we are honoring U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor for standing up for what makes public education a cornerstone of our democracy—equal opportunity and support for all students of different backgrounds.

Time is running out! You have until October 6th to register to vote so make sure to check today. 17 constitutional amendments are up for statewide vote this November 4th. Make sure your voice counts.

Check your registration status here: tinyurl.com/34kfnnch

Thoughts on the cell phone ban?

We at the TSTA team want to know what the cell phone ban has been like for you, your students, and your community for a story to be featured in TSTA's magazine, The Advocate.

Let us know here: forms.gle/cKR3dqVwCNHn...

Recent gains in teacher pay have helped many districts address teacher retention. But salaries need to improve more to help attract new educators.

Jimmy Kimmel and educators have something very important in common – Texas State Teachers Association Late night TV host Jimmy Kimmel operates in a different world than schoolteachers and most university faculty, and his earnings dwarf theirs, but the TV star has something very important in common…

#GradingTexas blog: TV host Jimmy Kimmel has something very important in common with educators: we're all on the front lines of protecting democracy, and that makes us political targets of the aspiring dictator Donald Trump and his gang of apologists and enablers. tsta.org/grading-texa...